Although I don’t wear them very much, I do madly love hats – particularly on women. I personally love top hats but sadly they are perhaps only really considered appropriate to wear at weddings, the races and church services. I recently indulged in Mad Hatter’s Champagne Afternoon Tea at 34 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair with a group of hat lovers. It was to celebrate the restaurant’s exciting new exhibition, Hats Off To The Racing Season, which is currently displaying some of the world’s most iconic hats by British designers made over the last few decades. There are 15 pieces, each artfully presented within 34’s Edwardian style windows, including designs from Robyn Coles, whose hats have been worn by HRH Princess Eugenie and Lara Jensen, who has seen her creations worn by Lady Gaga.
I find the history of fashion quite fascinating because it reflects the times, and with hats there are many interesting things of note I have observed. One involves a video I saw on YouTube a few months ago. It was an old video of London made several decades ago, during the 1920s, and that little video clip shows hundreds of men walking along Petticoat Lane – nearly all of them covered in hats. This made me wonder – what caused the decline of the hats culture over the last 90 years in this country? It’s a question I asked Gemma Williams, who is the curator of the exhibition and a millinery specialist. She seems to suggest that the rise and popularity of men’s hairstyles, heavily influenced by leading movie stars of the times, is perhaps the reason for it. Certainly makes perfect sense to me. Another interesting observation is how hats that were originally made for men are now being worn by women – such as bowler hats, and boy do they look good. I love bowler hats on women!
Other hats on display at 34’s exhibition include designs by Philip Treacy and John Boyd, designer of Princess Diana’s hat. Joining Gemma and me for Afternoon Tea was hat designer David Shilling. He was sporting a wonderfully big blue sequinned top hat style head piece on his head. David credits David Beckham for reviving men’s interest in fashion, and believes today’s men are more daring than ever. I certainly believe him. I think these are exciting times for men’s fashion, and we are seeing a surge in the number of males wanting to stand up and be noticed. I think this is down to at least two factors: society’s most adored male celebrities are being more daring than ever (think Pharrell and his crazy cool hats), and social media – especially Instagram – where normal every day men are being actively encouraged to put up outfit photos in exchange for “likes”. Men today are more image conscious than ever before. One of David Shilling’s creations – a silver sequinned hat decorated with cherries (the fruit) and dessert spoons is on display.
Hats Off To The Racing Season exhibition is well worth a visit. It is open and will run through July, completely free to all dining patrons.
Address: 34 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HD (entrance on South Audley Street, just north of Reeves Mews)
Website: www.34-restaurant.co.uk
Reservations: 020 3350 3434
